Entries now open for the Grosvenor Museum’s 16th Open Art Exhibition

The Grosvenor Museum’s Open Art Exhibition returns for its 16th year.

The popular exhibition presents the best in contemporary art in the region.

Online submissions are now open through the museum’s website:

westcheshiremuseums.co.uk 

The deadline for entries is midnight on Sunday 15th November 2026.

The competition gives artists of all descriptions a chance to share their work, with prizes awarded by a panel of judges for first, second, and third place, and a Visitors’ Choice prize for the artwork that receives the most votes by public ballot.

Councillor Lisa Denson, Cabinet Member for a Fairer Future said: 

“The Open Art Exhibition showcases the amazing range of local artists in our area. It’s held every two years and receives hundreds of incredible entries each time, I’m sure the 16^th exhibition will carry on this tradition.

“I’d like to thank our selectors; Jessie Petheram, West Cheshire Museums, Georgina West, Storyhouse, Maria Hayes, Ruthin Craft Centre and Vicky Lewis, Textile Artist.”

Entries are invited from artists over the age of 16  living and/or working in the North West Region and Cheshire’s bordering counties: Cumbria; Lancashire (including Merseyside and Greater Manchester); Yorkshire; Derbyshire; Staffordshire; Shropshire; Denbighshire; Wrexham and Flintshire.

There are two rounds of judging: the first to select entries; the second to select prize winners. Successful artists will be invited to bring their work/s to second-round judging at the Grosvenor Museum on 22nd or 23rd January 2027.

Up to three works may be submitted by each artist. The entry fee is £10 per work, payable when submitting the online form. This is non-refundable and goes towards artist prizes and costs of the exhibition.

Prizes

1st £1,000
2nd £500
3rd £250
Visitors’ Choice £150

The exhibition will open to the public on 6 February until 4 July 2027.